Gabby Logan has issued an apology following the BBC’s broadcast of a replay showing the distressing moment Hungary striker Barnabas Varga was injured and subsequently hospitalised.
The harrowing event occurred after Varga experienced a horrific clash with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, resulting in the 29-year-old Hungarian player lying motionless on the turf. His teammates immediately positioned him in the recovery posture while medical personnel from Hungary sprinted to his aid.
A barrier was swiftly erected at the scene to shield the ongoing medical attention from public view. As stretcher bearers entered the field, Hungary’s players were seen urging them to quicken their pace, visibly concerned for Varga.
Despite this tense atmosphere, host broadcaster UEFA chose to replay the incident, prompting the BBC to switch to a broader shot of the Stuttgart Arena. Post-match, Logan extended her well-wishes to Varga and clarified the BBC’s stance of disapproval regarding UEFA’s decision to show a replay of the collision.
Logan remarked: “All of our thoughts are of course with Barnabas Varga after that sickening collision. We are updating you on his condition. At the moment we have no more. We were as shocked as you when they replayed that incident.”
She continued, addressing the audience: “There are protocols around this kind of thing after Christian Eriksen three years ago. We were very surprised that UEFA chose to play in that replay, which is why we cut away to a wide angle as soon as we could.”
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Varga was rushed to hospital, with the Hungarian FA later confirming his stable condition. They released a statement saying: “Several bones in Barnabás Varga’s face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion.
“The Hungarian striker is most likely to undergo surgery. He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him!”
Following a six-minute pause, Varga was stretchered off the pitch to a standing ovation from the Stuttgart Arena crowd. Former Scotland international Pat Nevin defended Gunn’s decision to leave his line, asserting that the collision was purely accidental.
Speaking to BBC 5 Live, he said: “We have seen it before if a keeper comes out and he doesn’t get the ball but takes a player it is a foul. I actually think Angus Gunn got some of the ball there.”
Hungary clinched victory with a goal in the ninth minute of injury time. Roland Sallai made a run down the right wing and set up Kevin Csoboth, who drove the ball into the bottom corner to knock Scotland out of the competition and keep Hungary’s chances of reaching the round of 16 alive.
